Containers



Feb. 13, 1968 D. WAINBERG I CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1966 INVENTOR D. WAINBERG CONTAINERS Feb. 13, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1966 [NV/ENTO Feb. 13, 1968 D. WAINBERG 3,368,734

CONTAINERS Filed July 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l @M i United States Patent 3,368,734 CONTAINERS Daniel Wainberg, 4755 Blvd. des Grandes Prairies, St. Leonard, Montreal 38, Quebec, Canada Filed July 13, 1966, Ser. No. 565,001 5 Claims. ((11. 229-36) ABSTRACT OF THE I DISCLOSURE The invention refers to a container made from a onepiece pre-cut blank provided with a bottom panel of a comparatively large surface dimensions and having integral side and end walls of a comparatively shallow depth. Side and end riser walls are integral with the side and end walls respectively and are articulated therefrom, and locking flaps are integral with certain of the side walls and riser walls, each locking flap being formed of a hinge section, a locking lip and an extension section, the extension section being foldable from the locking flap and from the end of a side wall. The locking flaps are adapted to be interlocked with slits formed in the adjacent riser walls to complete corner formations of the adjacent Walls.

such as comestibles, including slices of bacon, ham andother meat or food products either frozen or otherwise,

. wearing apparel, including handkerchiefs, gloves, socks,

ties and other items, stationery supplies, notions and other articles of merchandise, have been made of comparatively large surface dimensions but of little depth and generally out of one-piece pre-cut blanks.

Such containers are generally characterized by the fact that their end and side wall panels are integral with the bottom panel but independent from one another, and rely on end flaps and closure flaps for maintaining the erected position of the wall panels. This type of structure leaves gaps or openings between the ends of the adjacent wall panels and thus leaving the contents of the container exposed to infiltration of dust, moisture or other foreign matter that may enter through such gaps or openings of the container.

Other forms of a similar type of container have the end of the adjacent side and end walls joined to one another by a gusset arrangement, but to maintain these walls in an upright position, the walls must be provided with end and side flaps which extend inwardly in a horizontal direction, certain of the flaps being secured together to close the container and hold the side and end walls in an upright position. When the closure flaps are detached, the whole container collapses.

In these containers, having large surface dimensions and shallow depths, great difficulty has been found to maintain the contour walls of the container, such as the end walls and the side walls, in an upright position when the closure flaps or top walls are free from one another and the container is in its open position. This difiiculty is caused through the ineffectualness of devising a means of interlocking the adjacent end and side walls to one another I container is closed or opened, due to the narrowness of the depth of such side and end walls.

It is therefore the purpose of the invention, among other objects, to overcome this obstacle by providing a means for maintaining the side and end walls in an upright position whether the container is closed or opened and regardless of the depth of the container, and at the same time to increase the stiffness and strength of the container in all directions.

It is further the purpose of this invention to eliminate such and other objectionable features that have been found in former containers used for specified purposes, and particularly those of narrow depths, and simultaneously to increase the strength of the containers through the positive locking of their adjacent walls, as well as other features that will be discernible in the description together with the accompanying drawings.

Among the objects of the invention is to devise a container, particularly those containers having a narrow depth and wide surface dimensions, that will have the proper rigidity in both the longitudinal and lateral directions and thus minimize any torsional twisting of the container.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a container, provided with narrow side and end walls, with interlocking means that will assure a close upright abutment of the locked walls with the corner formations of the container for stiffening the container in all directions through increasing the rigidity of the corners of the container in the joining of the adjacent walls to one another.

A further object of the invention is to construct a container from a blank, with the minimum waste of material, that will be easy to assemble either by mechanical or manual means and efficient for its purpose.

Another object of the invention is to devise a con-' tainer in which the upright walls will be void of any slits, slots 0r crease lines, and thereby increasing the strength of the wall structure and to effect a positive securement of the adjacent upright walls thereof and thus permitting the manufacture of various types of containers of varying depths, such as containers of extremely shallow depth, the whole container being made from a single one-piece pre-cut blank.

A further object of the invention is to assure the secure ment of the upright walls of a container regardless of its configuration, such as being angular, triangular, rectangular, arcuate, square or any other shape, and that will be capable of withstanding reasonable pressures from any direction and maintain its uniform configuration at all times when once assembled and in its locked position.

Still a further object of the invention is to devise a container in which no adhesive or other securement means need be added to secure the adjacent upright walls to one another for [adding strength to the structure, as has been done in the past, but in place thereof to effect the necessary strength and positive locking of the upright walls together through securement means that are remote from the walls themselves and yet form an integral part of the container.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred forms of the invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a pre-out blank from which the container is formed.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container as assembled.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container in its partially opened position.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the container in its closed position.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the exterior of one corner of the container prior to the securement of the adjacent walls to one another.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the interior of one corner of the container prior to the securement of the adjacent Walls to one another.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one corner of a modified form of container in the form of a package in which a slit is located in the fold line connecting the end of a top flap or top wall to an integral locking flap, which is provided with a locking lip adapted to engage with a slot formed in an adjacent top flap or top wall to complete the joinder of the adjacent upright walls.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 9 but having the locking flap interlocked with the adjacent top flap or top wall.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembled modified container in the form of a package having its corners made similar to that as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 and in its open position and having its locking flaps completely detached from their former intergral top flap or top wall, but still interlocked with their adjacent top flaps or top walls so as to maintain the securement of the adjacent upright walls.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner of a further modified form of container in which the looking flap is provided with an underside type of locking tongue.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of'a corner of a further modified form of container in which the locking flap is provided with an overside type of locking tongue.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings, the pre-cut blank, as indicated by the numeral 15, from which the container 16 is formed, consists of a bottom panel 17 having a window frame 18 to which a transparent window or panel 19 is adhesively or otherwise secured. The area of the bottom panel is made of a comparatively large surface dimension in comparison of its depth, the depth being regulated in accordance with the height of its upright walls, when the container is erected.

The end walls 20 and the side walls 21 are integral with the bottom panel 17 and are separated therefrom by the fold lines 22 and 23 and are adapted to be articulated upwardly therefrom. The end and side walls, as illustrated, are of a comparatively shallow depth and are free from any slits, incisions or fold or crease lines to mar or weaken their structure.

The end riser walls 24 are integral with the end walls 20 and are separated therefrom by the fold lines 25 and are provided with the locking slits 26 for their engagement by the locking flaps and locking lips of the side riser walls 27.

The side riser walls 27 are integral with the side walls 21 and are separated therefrom by the fold lines 28 and are provided with the integral locking flaps 29 and the locking lips 30 for their introduction into the slits 26 of the end riser walls 24 and to interlock therewith.

The locking flaps 29 are integrally formed with the side riser walls 27 and the side walls 21 and are bendable therefrom at the fold lines 31 and 32, which are common or in alignment with one another. The locking flaps are adapted to extend laterally from the edges of the lower portions Of the side top walls and the ends of the side wall 21.

Each of the locking flaps 29 consists of three integral sections separated from one another by the diagonal fold bend 33 and the horizontal fold bend 34 so as to form the hinge section 35, the locking section 36, which includes the locking lip 30, and the extension section 37.

The locking section 36 is formed withan offset or protruding portion 38 in its upper and lateral portion and from which projects downwardly the bendable locking lip 30. This locking lip is slitted at 39 from the locking section 36 and has a fold bend 40 where it projects from the offset or protruding portion, so that it may be folded inwardly to abut the inner face of the offset or protruding portion.

The extension section 37, as shown, is formed of a three-sided configuration which is integrally separated on the one side by the horizontal bend 34 from the look ing section 3 6 and is integrally separated from the end of a side wall by the fold line 32, while the third side is cut away from the remainder of the pre-cut blank or the container formed therefrom and extends from the lower edge of the fold line 23 and terminates short of the locking lip at the lower end of the slit 39 to merge with the horizontal fold bend 34 of the locking section 37.

The end and side riser walls 24 and '27 are utilized for the securement and erection of the main end and side walls, and, in this way, a container may be made of an extremely narrow depth that would otherwise be difiicult to accomplish without the use of adhering material, due to lack of height to such walls, making it difllcult to form slits and locking flaps therein and therewith, for joining and fastening such adjacent walls to one another to complete the assembly of the container from a pre-cut blank.

In the assembly of the container from the pre-cut blank, the protruding portions of the locking sections 36 and their accompanying locking lips are inserted through the slits 26 formed in the end riser walls 24 for the interlocking of the side riser walls and the end riser walls to one another, and simultaneously the adjacent end and side walls are also joined together through the extension sections 37 which are integral with the ends of the side walls and are folded inwardly therefrom for abutment against the outer face of the end walls.

In this way auxiliary locking joints are effected for the securement of the adjacent walls and to maintain them in their upright position, even if the locking flaps, in their locked position with the end riser walls, were to be separated from the side riser walls, as the extension sections would be the connectors between the side walls to the end riser walls, which in turn are integral with the end walls. Furthermore the extension sections complete the corners of the adjacent walls in the erected position of the container.

When the side riser walls are folded inwardly from their upright positions, the hinge and locking sections of the locking flaps are automatically folded inwardly, through the diagonal fold bends 33, for their abutment with one another and thereby cause the end riser walls to be folded inwardly, so that both the side and end riser walls will be positioned in a horizontal direction. The walls thus become the closure flaps and may be sealed or secured in any suitable manner to complete the closure of the container after the predetermined contents have been placed therein.

In FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the modification of the invention is in the form of a package 41 that is made from a one-piece pre-cut blank and consists of a bottom panel 42 having a comparatively large surface dimension and provided with integral narrow end walls 43 and narrow side walls 44. End flaps 45 are integral with the end walls 43 and have the locking slits 46 which are adapted to be engaged by the locking lips 47 of the locking flaps 48.

The locking flaps 48 form integral and articulating parts of the lower portions of the ends of the side flaps 49 and which are integral with the side walls 44. The extension members 50 are integral with and articulate from the ends of the side walls 45 and are integral with the lower portions of the locking flaps 48 and located adjacent to the locking lips 47 and foldable therefrom by the fold lines 51, so that when the locking flaps are folded inwardly the extension members will also fold inwardly and abut the exterior surfaces of the end walls.

The folding lines 52, that permit the articulation of the locking flaps 48 from the side flaps 49 are partially slit at 53 and this is for the purpose of enabling the complete separation of the locking flaps from the side flaps, after the interlocking of the adjacent flaps and walls, leaving only the extension members to form the connection between the adjacent side walls through the interlocking means.

The arrangement of the locking flaps and the extension members or sections articulating from the ends of the side riser walls or side flaps and side walls for engagement with locking slits located in the end riser walls or end flaps may be reversed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Furthermore, the construction of the interlocking means may be changed in accordance with the style, size and shape of the desired container or package, for instance, as shown in FIGURES and 11. In FIGURE 10, the locking section 54 of the locking flap 55 has an integral locking head 56 in its upper outer corner which is adapted to engage with the locking slit 57 formed in an end riser wall 58. In this modification, an integral extension member 59 forming a part of the side wall 60 and the locking section 54, as previously described in the other forms of the invention, is included for cooperation with the interlocking means.

In FIGURE 11 another form of interlocking means is shown, and in which the interlocking section 61 of the locking flap 62 has a locking head 63 that is provided with a locking notch 64 in its top portion so that when the locking section 61 is introduced into and through the angle-shaped slit 65, formed in the end riser wall 66, it will have its notch 64 engaging with the corner of the angle slit located at the point of change of angle direction of the slit. In this form, the extension member 67 is also used as an adjunct to the interlocking means.

Since certain changes may be made in the above structures and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A container formed from a one-piece pre-cut blank comprising a bottom panel having a comparatively large surface dimension, upright walls of comparatively shallow depth formed integral with said bottom panel, riser walls formed integral with said upright walls and articulating therefrom in relation to the fixed upright position of said upright walls and forming closure flaps, certain of said riser Walls having locking slits therethrough, locking flaps integral with certain of said riser walls and certain of said upright Walls and articulating therefrom, each of said locking flaps consisting of integral sections separated from one another by fold bends so as to form a hinge section, a locking section and an extension section, said locking section having a protruding portion carrying a locking lip and which is adapted to engage with a locking slit of an adjacent riser wall and together with said extension section completing a corner of the container and locking the adjacent upright walls to one another and maintaining them in an upright position.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the extension section forms an integral part of the locking flap and an integral part of one end of an upright wall and is separated from the' upright wall by a vertical folding line.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the extension section is formed of a three-sided configuration which is integrally separated on the one side by a horizontal fold line from the locking section and is integrally separated from the end of an upright wall by a vertical fold line, while a third side is cut away from the locking lip of the locking flap.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the locking flaps, after the container has been erected and the riser walls interlocked with one another, may be severed from their riser walls but retaining their integral connection with the extensions emanating from the ends of the upright walls that are integral with the aforesaid riser walls.

5. A container formed from a one-piece pre-cut blank comprising a bottom panel having a comparatively large surface dimension, side walls and end walls formed integral with said bottom panel and articulating upwardly therefrom and formed of a comparatively shallow depth, end riser walls formed integral with said end walls and articulating therefrom and having locking slits, side riser walls formed integral with said side walls and articulating therefrom, and locking flaps formed integral with said side riser walls and said side walls and consisting of a hinge section, a locking lip and an extension section, the extension section being foldable from the locking flap and foldable from the end of a side wall, said locking flaps adapted to be interlocked with the slits formed in said riser Walls for hingedly securing the side and end riser walls to one another and maintaining the erectness of said side and end walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 978,569 12/1910 Elkin 229-36 X 1,667,869 5/ 1928 Peterson 229-87 1,667,870 5/1928 Peterson 229-87 3,027,063 3/1962 Zastrow 229-40 X 3,146,934 9/1964 Steiger 229-36 X 3,211,358 10/1965 Pierce 229-35 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,984 9/1964 Canada.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

